Missouri Governor signs stadium funding bill for Chiefs, Royals into law

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HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU TONIGHT AT NINE AND TEN. AND AS THE BOYS IN BLUE ARE GETTING READY FOR THAT GAME, WE ARE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS OUT OF JEFFERSON CITY. THE PLAN TO KEEP THE ROYALS AND CHIEFS IN THE SHOW-ME STATE TOOK ANOTHER CRUCIAL STEP FORWARD DURING TODAY’S MISSOURI SPECIAL SESSION. KMBC NINE MATT EVANS IS IN JEFF CITY. FOLLOWING THAT PROGRESS AND WHAT’S NEXT AFTER THE HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ADVANCED THAT PROPOSAL TO THE HOUSE FLOOR? IT NOW JUST HAS TWO MORE VOTES BEFORE HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. IT’S VOTED TO PASS AFTER A 3.5 HOUR LONG HEARING, THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE BILL 11 TO 2, WITH ONE REPRESENTATIVE VOTING PRESENT. IT NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO NOT TO COUNT CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH, BUT I DO FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT IT, AND I’M EXCITED TO GET BACK TO KANSAS CITY AND WORK ON THE LOCAL PIECE OF THIS. KANSAS CITY COUNCILMAN WES ROGERS WAS ONE OF THE MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE THAT MADE THE TRIP TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE STATE FUNDING FOR UP TO 50% OF A STADIUM PROJECT FOR THE CHIEFS AND ROYALS. HE SAYS THIS OFFER COULD KEEP THE TEAMS FROM MOVING ACROSS THE STATE LINE OR OUT OF THE MARKET ENTIRELY UNTIL IT’S DONE. WE’VE GOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYTHING. I THINK THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH, AND I THINK IF WE GIVE THEM A GOOD OFFER, I THINK THINGS WILL WORK OUT JUST FINE. BUT THAT OFFER IS NOT WITHOUT ITS DETRACTORS. THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE AND THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE ARE BEING HUSTLED BY TEAMS WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMPETITION. THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK THE SHOW-ME INSTITUTE TESTIFIED AGAINST THE BILL, SAYING THE TEAMS WOULD LIKELY STAY IN MISSOURI EVEN WITHOUT THE STATE DOLLARS. I THINK MISSOURI AND KANSAS CITY AND JACKSON COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO INVEST, BUT WE’RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU TO LOVE US. HOUSE LEADERS SAY THEY EXPECT TO TAKE UP THIS LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW MORNING. THEY BEGIN THEIR SESSION AT 10 A.M. IN JEFFERSON CITY. MATT EVANS KMBC NINE NEWS. AND

Updated: 3:17 PM CDT Jun 14, 2025

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Missouri Governor signs stadium funding bill for Chiefs, Royals into law

Updated: 3:17 PM CDT Jun 14, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has has put ink to paper for the final hurdle to state funding for potential stadium relocation or renovations for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.SB 3 contains the "Show-Me Sports Investment Act," a measure debated by lawmakers in a special session, aimed at keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. “We are proud of how the General Assembly came together during this special session to deliver real results for Missourians,” said Governor Kehoe. “We called legislators back to Jefferson City because the stakes were too high to wait—families and communities needed disaster relief, taxpayers deserved certainty, and critical job-saving investments were on the line. "Without action, thousands of Missourians would have been left without much-needed support, and the state would risk losing jobs and economic development opportunities that are key drivers for growth—not just for Kansas City, but for our entire state. "These investments demonstrate that Missouri is committed to taking care of our own, staying competitive, and backing initiatives that secure long-term economic stability for our communities.”SB 3 allows professional sports teams to access state funds for stadium development through a bonding mechanism, provided the project costs at least $500 million and involves a Major League Baseball or NFL team.The state could cover up to 50% of a qualifying stadium’s cost.Supporters say the plan helps Missouri compete with Kansas, where a STAR bond program offering up to 70% funding for new stadiums is set to expire at the end of June.The decision to stay in Missouri or move to Kansas, or elsewhere, ultimately rests with the teams.Both franchises have said they are considering all options.With the proposal now passed at the state level, attention turns to what individual counties in Missouri may do. Click here for more information on all three measures signed into law.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has has put ink to paper for the final hurdle to state funding for potential stadium relocation or renovations for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

SB 3 contains the "Show-Me Sports Investment Act," a measure debated by lawmakers in a special session, aimed at keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.

“We are proud of how the General Assembly came together during this special session to deliver real results for Missourians,” said Governor Kehoe. “We called legislators back to Jefferson City because the stakes were too high to wait—families and communities needed disaster relief, taxpayers deserved certainty, and critical job-saving investments were on the line.

"Without action, thousands of Missourians would have been left without much-needed support, and the state would risk losing jobs and economic development opportunities that are key drivers for growth—not just for Kansas City, but for our entire state.

"These investments demonstrate that Missouri is committed to taking care of our own, staying competitive, and backing initiatives that secure long-term economic stability for our communities.”

SB 3 allows professional sports teams to access state funds for stadium development through a bonding mechanism, provided the project costs at least $500 million and involves a Major League Baseball or NFL team.

The state could cover up to 50% of a qualifying stadium’s cost.

Supporters say the plan helps Missouri compete with Kansas, where a STAR bond program offering up to 70% funding for new stadiums is set to expire at the end of June.

The decision to stay in Missouri or move to Kansas, or elsewhere, ultimately rests with the teams.

Both franchises have said they are considering all options.

With the proposal now passed at the state level, attention turns to what individual counties in Missouri may do.

Click here for more information on all three measures signed into law.

Missouri Governor signs stadium funding bill for Chiefs, Royals into law

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